The Kenny surname in Ireland comes from the Gaelic O Coinnigh, which was an old Irish first name, made popular by a 6th century monk of the name, whose "church of Coinneach" became the name of the town Kilkenny.

Kenny Early Origins

The surname Kenny was first found in counties Galway and Roscommon (Irish: Ros Comáin) located in central Ireland in the province of Connacht.

Kenny Spelling Variations

Kenny Spelling Variations

Those scribes in Ireland during the Middle Ages recorded names as they sounded. Consequently, in this era many people were recorded under different spellings each time their name was written down. Research on the Kenny family name revealed numerous spelling variations, including Kenny, O'Kenny, Kenney, Kennie and others.

Kenny Early History

Kenny Early History

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kenny research. Another 211 words (15 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Kenny History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kenny Early Notables (pre 1700)

Kenny Early Notables (pre 1700)

More information is included under the topic Early Kenny Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

The Great Migration

The Great Migration

During the 19th century thousands of impoverished Irish families made the long journey to British North America and the United States. These people were leaving a land that had become beset with poverty, lack of opportunity, and hunger. In North America, they hoped to find land, work, and political and religious freedoms. Although the majority of the immigrants that survived the long sea passage did make these discoveries, it was not without much perseverance and hard work: by the mid-19th century land suitable for agriculture was short supply, especially in British North America, in the east; the work available was generally low paying and physically taxing construction or factory work; and the English stereotypes concerning the Irish, although less frequent and vehement, were, nevertheless, present in the land of freedom, liberty, and equality for all men. The largest influx of Irish settlers occurred with Great Potato Famine during the late 1840s. Research into passenger and immigration lists has brought forth evidence of the early members of the Kenny family in North America:

Mr. James Kenny, English Fireman from England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania and died in the sinking

Miss Agnes Kenny, English 3rd Class passenger from England, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania and survived the sinking

Motto

Motto

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

The Kenny Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The Kenny Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.